The Law School offers a variety of joint and dual degree programs that allow students to receive a graduate degree in conjunction with their JD. This may be a second legal degree, such as an LLM, or a graduate degree from another school on the University’s campus such as a Master’s of Business Administration, a PhD in Economics, a Master’s or PhD in Political Science, a Master’s in Public Administration, a Master’s in Social Work, or a Master’s in Civil Engineering. Students enrolled in a joint or dual degree program are able to apply credit from approved courses to their law degree and may be able to apply credit from courses completed at the Law School to their additional degree. Information about our joint and dual degree programs, including application information and degree requirements, may be found below.
Backed by the world-class faculty and powerful alumni networks of both The University of Alabama School of Law and Alabama’s Manderson Graduate School of Business, the JD/MBA Program offers a four-year curriculum rich in course offerings and experiential opportunities. Alabama’s JD/MBA students are immersed in a rigorous set of classes, and are involved in real business and legal situations with the opportunity to interact with key executives and practicing attorneys.
Participating students emerge from the cross-disciplinary course of study with highly marketable skills positioning them for success in today’s global environment.
Due to the cross-disciplinary nature of the JD/MBA Program, students are encouraged to take full advantage of all resources available through both schools, including, for example, academic advisors and career services offices.
If you are searching for a new and strategic way to explore the intersecting worlds of business and law, if you seek a balance of team- and case-based learning, if you value close relationships with your faculty and small class sizes, and if you desire unparalleled value for your higher education dollar, you belong at Alabama.
Separately, the Juris Doctor (JD) requires a minimum of 90 hours and the Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE) requires a minimum of 30 hours, totaling 120 credit hours. The dual JD/MSCE program allows up to 12 credit hours of specified CE electives to count towards the JD and a maximum of 12 credit hours of specified LAW courses to count towards the MSCE. The joint degree program, however, requires a minimum of 96 credit hours total (versus 120 credit hours) for both degrees.
Students in the joint JD/MSCE degree program will follow the first year curriculum (32 hours) prescribed by the Law School (see below). The joint degree program effectively begins after the first year of the JD curriculum is complete. Joint JD/MSCE students will work with advisors from both programs prior to their third semester to assure an appropriate plan of study is developed and progress is made to satisfy the requirements of both degrees.
JD students may concurrently enroll in the LL.M. in Tax Program which offers concentrations in Taxation or Business Transactions. The tax concentration develops practical skills to support career growth and preparation for tax practice. Students can choose electives allowing them to focus in either Estate Planning or Business Tax. The business transactions concentration is designed to train students to serve the needs of business and tax clients throughout the life cycle of a business venture. The skills-based program begins with formation and choice of business entity, then addresses financing in the growth phase, possible reorganizations and mergers as the business matures. The concentration offers elective courses in various business tax courses.
JD students can earn a JD and an LL.M. degree at the same time by attending summer school following their second year of law school. With careful planning, students can avoid taking courses the second summer after graduation. The LL.M. tuition rate will apply to any courses taken after JD graduation.
The Law School has partnered with the Departments of Political Science and Economics to allow students pursuing a Ph.D. in either of these two areas to be dually enrolled in the Law School and in the Political Science or Economics Departments. Students spend the first year in law school courses and at least one year exclusively as a graduate student in political science or economics. Other years are spent taking classes from both departments. Some classes have been pre-approved by the Law School and Political Science and Economics to count as credit toward both degrees, therefore, lessening the amount of time it takes to both degrees compared to the time students would be enrolled for the programs separately. Students must be accepted into both programs independently before being accepted in the dual enrollment program.
